“I thought myself the most suitable person in the house.”
“Why?”
“Because the thing came to me to get done, and I had to go; and because I knew I should be kinder to her than any one you could send. I know too well what servants are, to trust them with the poor!”
“You may be far too kind to such people!”
“Yes, if one hasn't common sense. But this girl you couldn't be too kind to.”
“It is just as I feared: she has taken you in quite! Those tramps are all the same!”
“The same as other people—yes; that is, as different from each other as your ladyship and I.”
Lady Ann found Barbara too much for her, and changed her attack.
“But how came you to be so long? As you have just said, Burrow-lane can't be more than a mile and a half from here!”
“We could not leave her at the cottage; it was not a fit place for her. Mr. Tuke had to go to his grandfather's—four miles—and I had to stay with her till he came back. Old Simon came himself in his spring-cart, and took her away.”